Rubber springing for motor vehicles



May 28, 1940. B. BARENYI 2,202,615

RUBBER. SPRINGING FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 15. 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet1 Fig. 1 z,

361a jam-22 w e Mal y 1940. B. BARENYI 2,202,615

RUBBER SPRINGING- FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet2 28, 1940. B. BARENYI 2,202,615

RUBBER SFRINGING FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3jefa fa r-e 7?! MEL L y 8, 1940. B. BARENYI 2,202,615

RUBBER SPRINGING FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Irma/71 0m- May 28, 1940. BARENYl 2,202,615

RUBBER SPRINGING FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 15, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5je/a Zara}, 45 40 92 41 w 40 O f; M/Mw'l hue/va or rat er a... 2a, 1910*UNITED sures angers PAT ar assist.

Getefo, 'Gesellschaft fiir .teclmisclien Fort- --ncliritt m. b. H.,Berlin; Germany, a Qerinan company 7 Application m 15, 1936, Serial No.90,631 In Germany July 16, 1935 13 Claims. (siest -21) This inventionrelates to rubber springing for motor vehicles. a In known rubbersuspension systems for motor vehicles the rubber material has beeneither subjected to tensile stress, in which case the danger of,destruction of the stressed rubber is great, or, ifthe wheels aremounted on rocking. levers, the rubber has-been given the form of a ringor disc, as a result of which the rubber material was spirally deformed.In these devices the fixing ofthe rubber parts to the surfaces incontact therewith is complicated, audit is diflic'ult to accommodatethe' elements required for the springing in a suitable manner in thespace conveniently available in the designof the vehicle, while stillachieving the desired resiliency and ability to take the load. Inaddition, the rubber material, is not stressed uniformly throughout andits springing properties are therefore only incompletely utilise Thepresent invention contemplates a rubber springing device in which therubber material 3.8 also fixed between surfaces and is subjected toshearing stress. A uniform stressing of the rubher, and a springingdevice adaptable to all requirements are however obtained by thefeatures that the parts adhesively connected to the rubber act upon theaxles, rocking levers or guide arms carrying the wheels to be sprung,through a systeigii of rods or levers which'provide a transmission in o.

By virtue of this construction it is possible to give the rubber theform of a layer limited by ,plane surfaces, and with this singleelement, to obtain the necessary ability to take the per'-' missibl"specific load, the length and width of said element defining thetransmissible forces, and the thickness defining the resiliency of thespringing. Cciistructional adaptability to given circumstances ispossible in the case of the space being limited in one direction, byextending the {wringing in the other direction, or by multiplymg thelayers. In consequence of the plane limiting surfaces it is possibletoshlft'the adhe ive surfaces which transmit the force by equal is-"tances throughcut,'so that all the rubber sections are equally stressedthroughout and no part is liable to ,a premature overstressing. Thisresults in a greater safety factor, sothatit is possible to so safely upto the calculable maximum values or the specific stressability.

In detail, the arrangement of the rubber layers can be carried outklnematically in different ways. Theycan act through tensile elementsupon rockins levers or they can also be mounted directly on guide armsor axles. Gear wheels, spindle pinions and other kinematic devices canalso be used as gearing transmitting the force from the wheels,- axlesor rocking levers to the tensile elements fixed to the rubber. Thedevice can for instance also be arranged in such a way'that the rubberlayer is stressed through several superposed movements of the tensileelements, that is to say, for. ex-

ample, subjected to combinations of shearing and compressive stress, orshearing or torsional stress, or shearing and tensile stress. Moreoverit is easily possible to alter the path of deformation of the spring byaltering the transmission ratio between the tensile elements acting uponthe rubber and the axles or rocking levers, for instance by pivoting therocking levers eccentrically, or' in similariashion, and thus to'adaptthe action of the spring to the load and to the road conditions.

In order more clearly to understand the invention, reference is made tothe accompanying drawings, which illustrate diagrammatically and by wayof example various embodiments thereof and in which: t

Fig. 1 shows an arrangement of the suspension below the frame,

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement of thesuspension within the profile of theframe,

Figs. 3 and 4 are a side-elevation and a crosssection' respectively ofan arrangement comprising several spring layers, 1 Fig. 5 shows a twinarrangement of the suspension,

Figs. 6 and '7 are a plan and a side elevation respectively of anarrangement de lin'g with lateral sliding, 1

Fig. 8 shows an arrangementv with limited. defiection of the spring,

Fig. 8a is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 8,

Fig.9 shows an arrangement of the suspension. for rocking, transversehalf-axles,-

Fig. 10 shows a modification of tharrangement of Fig. 9, i I

Fig. 11 shows an arrangement for driven sides, on the left-hand side forthe "steered wheels and on the right-hand side for the trailing wheels,

, Figs. 12 to 14 show a further constructional form with transverseaxles, in plan-view and in two cross-sections through the lines li-I and11-11 respectively,

Fig. 15 is a plan of a form of construction of the spring, on a largerscale,

Fig. 16 shows an arrangement of diagonal springs where the wheels areguided parallel,

' form of construction of 'a spring subjected to of Fig. 21..

shearing andcompressive stress,

Fig. 21 is a view of a rigid axle with e spring subjected toshearingstress-and Fig. 22 is.a vertical In the embodiment shown in Fig; 1,'-awheel I is mounted on a lover a, which is pivoted. to a framefbyanlaxle' 4, and tothe arm b belicra'nkedthereto. 'On the-left-handside of the v lever! is pivoted a tensile element Gwhich is connected toa rubber spring I by adhesion. Said rubber spring I is connected on itsother side to the frame'tube. 3 by means of a metal plate 8 to which itis also fixed by adhesion. The load of :by the wheel] exerts atensile'stress on the ole-- the vehicle which is transmitted to theground ment 6, which is taken up by theshearing stress of the rubberratio of the l ngth of the lever arms a and 5.

so ,In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, which in principle is thesame asthat of Fig. 1, the rubb'er layer"! is arranged within the frame profile3, which results in a protected position of the l in ing element and agreater clearance above the road surface, or a lower position of thecentre of gravity of the vehicle. The pivot point of the rocking leveris surrounded by a rigid casing 48- which is continued by a sleevevenclosing the rocking lever 2. The tensile element 6 can be maderesilient or take the form of a. flexible leaf spring so that it followsthe deflections of the arm 5, which latter is suitably incorporated inthe rocking lever 2. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thetensile element is enclosed in and adhesively secured to, two rubberlayers 1, symmetrically arranged with respect .to each other and ifdesired also of diilerent thicknesses or lengths. 'Ihe rubber layers 1are in turn flx'ed to the two .flanges of the frame girder by means ofthe metal plate 8.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 a; spring roflle 3. Theseelements actsymmetrically on a pair of levers 9, the pins III which slide in thesleeves i I joined to theetensile members 6 in such a 'way thatalterations in the thickness of the rubberlayers I, are balanced. In thearrangement shown in Fig. 6,.unilateral stresses in the longitudinaldirection are bal-' anced'by the symmetrical arrangement of several thedouble lever 9 tically. This arrangement gives a desirable,

steepness of the "spring characteristic in the that-with a'heavy loadthe spring becomes considerably harder. than load.

in the case of a light section along. the line A-B spring I, thestrength and resiliency of. which determines the springing charac-"-teristic, taking into consideration the element 1 is arranged on bothsides of the frame when they are movedaaxially;

'l on both sides-of the pin Ill.

t aaoaeie Fig; 17 is a section through the spring along the In theembodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 8a the tensile element I2 is at the sametime formed into a protective cap or hell, and in addition serves atitsend 13 as a stop in conjunction with the impact buiiers II' and I5,which-are fitted with'rubber layers I6 totake the force of the impact.The impact buffers I4 and '15 are mounted on "the frame 3 ofthe-vehicle. Said frame it carries a bracket 60 extending throughv aslot iii of the cap or casing l2 slidably arranged on the frame 3.Theportion 4 of the bell-crank lever 2, 5 carrying the wheel I isiournalled in a bearing arranged on the bracket 60. The pins Ill mountedon the arms 5 of the bell-cranklever are in slidable engagement withslots 62 ofthe can 62. Figs. 8 and '8a illustrate a symmet a1arrangement of four rubber blocks 1, each of said blocks being securedbetween the .cap it and theirame 3.

The applicationof the suspension system of the present invention tovehicles with themverw rocking half-axles will hereinafter be de-'scribed.

In the arrangement shown in.Fig. 9 the halfaxles is carrying the carwheels IS an pivoted on the car body II in such a way as to rock on alongitudinal axle 20. The longitudinal axle All, which can for examplebethe middle longitudinal girder or else a body frame, carries tensilemembers 22, likewise-pivoted, at 2|, in the middle longitudinal, frame,to which thesprin elements I are in their turn joined by adhesion, whilesaid spring elements l' ;.are on the other side secured by adhesiontoe'the metal plate 8 which is joined to the half-axles l9. Thestabilisation of the car body I1 is efiected by special stabilisationspri'ngs23, which are also pivoted. at 25, in the middle longitudinalplane.

The embodiment in Fig 10 agrees in principle with that shown in Fig. ,9,the point of pivoting 2 i of the tensile members 22 being merely movedabove the pivot point 20. This arrangement avoids the restriction of theclearance above road surface through the spring elements, but gives riseto a greater inclination of the car-body on curves.

In Fig. 11 a similar arrangement of the sprin element to that describedwith reference to Figs. 9 and. 10, applied to transverse tensile members22, is shown, t ewhole suspension system being piaced inside t ehalf-axle. By making the tensile members 22 hollow it is possible topass the driving shafts also throughthe hollow thus created. Thisarrangement is, as ontheleit hand side of the iigure, applicable .13)wheels turning on a steeringswivel journal 33 in the same way as to theunsteered wheels l8 shown on the right-handsidel In the arrangementshown in Figs. 12 to 1 4 0 spring devices are fitted which act (astension springs, the pivot point of the half--ax les l9 being moved intothe neighbourhood of the plane of the centre of gravity of the car body.One of these spring devices is the"main spring 28 taking the verticalload, and the others )are stabilisation springs 21. taking the unequalloads, these latter being arranged'on both sides of the axle l0.

' Fig. 15 shows a plan-view of. a' constructional form, given by way ofexample of such a spring element acting purely as a tensile spring. Inthis arrangement a middle tensile element 281s disposed between rubberlayers 29, which are for their part secured to the outer tensileelementstil. It the tensile-stress acts in, the direction shown by thearrow 3|, the-rubber layers are 7| deformed in the nner shown. In orderthen to lessen the notch effect at the most endangered edges, the rubberlayers 25 are so constricted by pressure pieces 32 provided on the metalplates 28 and 30, that even in the lateral distortion the end fibres ofthe rubber material follow a gently curved path in-streamline fashion.The spring element depicted fulfils all the functions of a tensilespring, 'and in addition acts with the same characteristic in bothdirections, that is to say in the capacity of a compression spring also.The capacity to transmit forces can be multiplied by multiplying therubber layers and tensile members placed side by side, and'also byincreasing the area of the tensile members. The element is thereforeparticularly widely usable and adaptable.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 16 tension springs corresponding to theelements in Fig. 15 are provided as diagonal springs 34 between theparallelogram track rods 35. In this case the spring elements on one orboth tensile members 28 or 32, as shown in section in Fig. 17, can bemade so oblique or wedge-shaped that on applying a tensile stress, therubber parts 29 are sub- Jected not only to shearing but also tocompressive stress.

The samekind of stressing is also possible, as shown in Fig. 18, withthe lever guides ,2 rurming in the direction of travel in accordancewith Figs. 1 to 8, an obtuse-angled lever arm 36 being fitted. When thespring is in the slightly stressed or completely unstressed state shownin Fig. 18, the fibres of the rubber part 3! move obliquely between themetal plates 38 which are mounted in parallelogram form. The latter formis so chosen that in the loaded state shown in Fig. 19 the plates lieexactly opposite each other, so that the rubber part 31 is subjectedboth .to shearing and to compressive stress, as is shown by indicatingthe fibres as lines 39.

The tensile element in Fig. has annular rubberelements 40, which aresecured by adhesion between obliquely set metal rings 4| and 42. Theinner rings 42 are mounted on a shaft or a tensile member 43, while theouter rings 4| are held inside a tube 44 or by the tension ring 45. Inthe case of tensile stress in the direction of the arrows 45 the rubberrings 40 are, in consequence of the oblique mounting of the rings 4i and42, subjected both to shearing and to compressive stress. The zig-zagshaped end surfaces of the rmgs 40, shown at 41. serve to relieve therubber parts most stressed by notch effect.

In Figs. 21 and 22 a rigid axle is shown, which is fitted with thespringing according to the invention. The rigid axle 50, which transmitsthe wheel shear to the frame 5| through shear elements not depicted inthe drawings, is mounted at both ends in bearings 52, which aresupported against the bell-crank lever 54 pivoted on the frame 5| by thepin 55. The running impacts are transmitted to the rubber spring 56 withthe aid of the pin 55 secured to the bell-crank lever 54 and of thetensile member 51 secured by adhesion to the rubber spring 56.

The details shown by way of example in the various figures areinterchangeable, and the various springing elements can be used inconjunction with the most diverse wheel suspension sys-- tems.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is:

1. A springing element forconnecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprising at least two metal plates, a rubber block adhesively securedbetween said inetal plates, a connection between one metal plate and thevehicle body and between another metal plate and a wheel axle, and meanspositively causing a substantally parallel movement of said metal platesrelative to each other, said metal plates subjecting said rubber blockto shearing stress due to theioad of the vehicle and road shocksuniformly and in the same direction at all points of said adhesivelysecured surfaces.

2. A springing element for connecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprising at least two metal plates, a rubber block adhesively securedbetween said metal plates, members connecting one metal plate with thevehicle body and another metal plate with a wheel axle, and meanspositively causing a substantially parallel movement of said metalplates relative to each other, said metal plates subjecting said rubberblock to shearing stress due to the load of the vehicle and road shocksuniformly and in the same direction at all points of said adhesivelysecured surfaces.

3. A springing element for connecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprising at least four metal plates two of same being symmetricallydisposed with respect to each other, at least one rubber blockadhesively secured between two of said metal plates, members connectingtwo of said metal plates with the vehicle body and the two other metalplates with a wheel axle, and means positively causing a substantiallyparallel movement of said metal plates relative to each other, saidmetal plates subjecting said rubber block to shearing stress due to theload of the vehicle and road shocks uniformly and in the same directionat all points of said adhesively secured surfaces.

4. A springing element for connecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprising more than two metal plates symmetrically disposed withrespect to each other, at least two rubber blocks arranged between saidmetal plates" and adhesively secured to said metal plates, at least onemetal plate being disposed between said two rubber blocksand adhesivelysecured thereto, members connecting one metal plate with the vehiclebody and another metal plate with a wheel axle, and means positivelycausing a substantially parallel move-' ment of said metal platesrelative to each other, said metal plates subjecting said rubber blockto shearing stress due to the load of the vehicle and road shocksuniformly and in the same direction at all points of said adhesivelysecured surfaces.

5. A springing element for connecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprising at least two metal plates, a rubber block adhesively securedbetween said metal plates, a connection between one metal plate and thevehicle body, and a pivoted member connecting another metal plate with awheel axle and positively causing a substantially parallel movement ofsaid metal plates relative to each other, said metal plates subjectingsaid rubber block to shearing stress due to the load of the vehicle androad shocks uniformly and in the same direction at all points of saidadhesively secured surfaces.

6. A springing element for connecting wheel 70 axles with a vehicle,comprising at least two metal plates, a prismatic rubber blockadhesively secured between said metal plates, a connection between onemetal plate and the vehicle body, a pivoted member connecting another r1 load of the vehicle and road shocks uniformly and metal plate with awheel axle and positively caussecured surfaces. I 7

:1; A springing element for connecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprising at least two metal plates, a rubber block adhesively secured.

betweensaid metal plates, a connection-between one metal plate and thevehicle body, and an obtuse angled bell crank lever connecting another imetal plate with a wheel axle and exerting 'a tensile stress thereon,said metal plates subjecting said rubber block to shearing stress due tothe in the same direction at all points of said adhesively securedsurfaces;

. 8. A springing element for.connecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprising at least two metal I plates, a r'ibber block adhesiveiysecured between said metal plates, a connection-between one metal plateand the vehicle body, an obtuse-angled bellcrank lever connectinganother metal plate with a wheel axle and exerting 'a tensile strengththereon and means-for limiting the deflection of said rubber block, saidmetal plates subjecting said rubber block to shearing stress due to theload of the vehicle and road shocks uniformly and in the same directionat all points of said adhesively secured surfaces. 7

9. A springing element for connecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprisirig at least two metal plates, a rubber block adhesively securedbetween said metal plates, members connecting one metal plate yvith thevehicle body and another metal plate with a wheel axle, said metalplates being swingably mounted on pivots displaced'withrespect to eachother subjecting said rubber block to shearing stress due to the load ofthe'vehicle and road shocks uniformly and in the same direction at allpoints of said adhesive .ly secured surfaces.

10. A springing element for'connecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprising atleast two metal plates, fa rubber block adhesively securedbetween said metal plates, members'connecting one metal plate with thevehicle body and another metal plate with a wheel axle. said metalplates beingswingably mounted on pivots displaced with respect to eachother and together with the rubber block being mounted in the in-,terior of an oscillating axle such that said metal plates subject saidrubber block to shearing stress due to the load of the vehicle and roadshocks uniformly and in the same direction at all points of saidadhesively secured surfaces.

11. A springing element for connecting wheel axles with a vehicle,comprising at least two metal plates, 9. tapering rubber blockadhesively secured between said metal plates, members connecting onemetal plate" with the vehicle body andanother metal plate with a wheelaxle, said metal plates being arranged obliquely to the direction of thestress applied thereto and subjecting said rubber block simultaneouslyto shearing stress and-to pressure due to the load of thevehicle androadshocks uniformly and in the same direction at all points of saidadhesively secured surfaces;

ently sprung vehicle wheel comprising in combination with the vehicleframe, a rotatably mounted link carried by the frame for guidmg thewheel, a pair of plate members, one of said plates being secured tosaidlink, the other of saidplates being pivotally mounted on said frame andextending therefrom in a substantially parallel relation with respect tosaid link, said plates being adapted tomove in the swinging plane of thewheel, a rel tively hard rubber member interposed betwe n and secured tothe surfaces of said plate, whereby the shearing resistance of saidrubber member op ses the springing of the wheel. s

13. A springing arrangement for an independenti'y sprung vehicle wheelcomprising in combination with the vehicle frame, a. rotatably mountedlink carried by the frame for guiding the wheel, a pair of platemembers, one of said plates being secured to said link, the other ofsaid plates being pivotally mounted on said frame and exetendingtherefrom in a substantially parallel relation with respect to saidlink, said plates being adapted to move in the swinging p l the wheel,an elongated rubber member interposed between and secured to thesurfaces ofsaid plates 12. A springing arrangement for anindependwhereby the shearing resistance of said rubber member opposesthe springing of the wheel.

' 'BELA BARENYI.

